We believe this chicken pasta salad recipe is one of the best cold salad recipes to make for either large gatherings, regular light meals, or World Pasta Day.
This salad is full of flavor, texture, and color. You will get tender pasta, hearty chicken, juicy cherry tomatoes, and crispy bell peppers, all wrapped in an irresistibly tasty dressing.
Chicken Pasta Salad Ingredients
The combination of chicken, pasta, and the veggie mix in this salad is heavenly. While chicken and pasta take the main stage, cherry tomatoes and red bell pepper add incredibly fresh flavors and crispness to the salad.
1. Pasta
With this chicken pasta salad recipe, we go for rotini, as this pasta shape looks exceptionally good in macaroni salads. You can easily chop rotini into bite-sized pieces, making it more convenient to toss with other ingredients.
Of course, please feel free to use your favorite pasta shape if you believe it makes the salad more appealing. Other pasta shapes that are suitable for this salad are bow tie, large shells, penne, rigatoni, farfalle, maccheroni, conchiglie, etc.
2. Chicken
For this salad, we use diced chicken breast to add a lean protein source to the salad while still keeping the fat low.
This salad also gives you a chance to make the best use of leftover rotisserie in your fridge. So, don’t fret yourself over which cut of chicken to use— whatever is convenient for you.
Is Chicken Pasta Salad Healthy?
For a protein salad that’s loaded with lean chicken breast, fresh greens, and a mix of fresh herbs and seasonings, we believe the answer is yes. The dressing is also light and herby, as there’s no mayo or ranch included.
However, it’s important to note that you may need a consult from a health expert when adding it to any specific diet.
Our other healthy options include an easy, tasty buffalo chicken recipe and one to make a light and quick lunch.
Calories
This chicken pasta salad provides 243 calories per serving.
Chicken Pasta Salad Dressing
In this chicken pasta salad recipe, we made the dressing only from a few ingredients: olive oil, red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, garlic, mustard, and honey.
Apart from that, of course, it is allowed to add mayo or sour cream to the dressing and make it cream-based. Making chicken pasta salad dressing with mayo or sour cream will make it remarkably richer and creamier.
How to Make Chicken Pasta Salad
Cook the pasta: Cook the pasta in a pot of boiling water for 10 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.
Coat: Add the chicken to a large bowl with garlic powder, salt, and ground black pepper. Toss to coat evenly.
Sear the chicken: On a skillet, heat 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil over low-medium heat. Sear the chicken for 10 minutes until golden. Allow it to cool down and cut into large dices.
Make the dressing: In a mixing bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon of olive oil, red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, garlic, mustard, and honey.
Toss with the dressing: Add chicken, arugula, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and red bell pepper to the pasta bowl. Pour over the dressing and toss to combine.
Serve: Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and serve.
Want to try another pasta salad? Our tortellini salad recipe is a perfect alternative! Or check out our best healthy salad roundup for more salad ideas.
What Goes With Chicken Pasta Salad?
Aside from chicken, pasta, and a hearty veggie mix of cherry tomatoes, red onion, and red bell pepper, here are other options for additional fruits and nuts that might also meet your needs.
1. Peas
Peas contribute a chewy texture and a nutty flavor, while also adding another source of protein and nutrients to this salad.
In place of peas, you can also consider cashews or chopped pecans, as they can also lend a wonderful crispness and earthy flavor to the bowl. You can chop whole pecans yourself or buy pre-chopped pecans to save time.
2. Grapes
Grapes add fresh sweetness and can help make a light summer lunch or dinner, and may result in possibly the best chicken salad!
Usually, red grapes are slightly sweeter and add vibrant color to the salad bowl. However, please rest assured that you can use any variety of grapes, depending on what you have at home or what you can buy in the store.
How Long Does Chicken Pasta Salad Last?
Sealed in an airtight container, chicken pasta salad can last in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Although leftovers are safe to eat, they may not retain the best flavor and texture. The longer the salad stays in the refrigerator, the drier it will become.
Therefore, the best way to enjoy this salad is always to complete it within a few hours after cooking. Consider adding some dressing to the salad bowl before reheating to make it moist.
Can You Freeze Chicken Pasta Salad?
Yes, you can. If stored in the same way as when refrigerated, this salad can freeze well for 2-3 weeks.
Take it out of the freezer the day before serving and let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then microwave when you’re ready to enjoy it.
Many ingredients in chicken pasta salad are difficult to freeze. Frozen vegetables after thawing can easily make the entire salad soggy and slimy.
The cream-based dressing can become watery after defrosting, as the mayo or sour cream easily separates. Therefore, if you need to make it in advance, please plan accordingly.
Looking to make a simple yet satisfying dinner? Check out this classic salad made with simple ingredients, our simple Southern Chicken Salad recipe, and another delicious salad to amp up your recipe collection.
Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe
This chicken pasta salad recipe provides numerous possibilities for spin-offs. You can mix it with added vegetables of your choice to serve as a side for sumptuous meals, or even for meal-prep lunch at work.
- cook TIME 40 mins
- prep TIME 10 mins
- total TIME 50 mins
- COURSE Side Dish
- CUISINE American
- SERVINGS servings
- CALORIES 243 kcal
INGREDIENTS
- 6 ozskinless boneless chicken breast
- 4.3 ozrotini pasta (dry)
- 1 tspgarlic powder
- 0.3 tspsalt
- 0.3 tspground black pepper
- 1.5 tbspolive oil (divided)
- 2 tbspred wine vinegar
- 1 tspItalian seasoning
- 1 tspgarlic (minced)
- 2 tsptraditional Dijon mustard
- 0.5 tbsphoney
- 1 ozarugula
- 3 ozcherry tomatoes (quartered)
- 0.5 ozred onion (julienned)
- 2 ozred bell pepper (julienned)
- 0.3 ozParmesan cheese
INSTRUCTIONS
Cook the pasta in a pot of boiling water for 10 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.
Add the chicken to a large bowl with garlic powder, salt, and ground black pepper. Toss to coat evenly.
On a skillet, heat 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil over low-medium heat. Sear the chicken for 10 minutes until it's cooked through and golden. Allow it to cool down and cut into large cubes.
Make the dressing: In a mixing bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon of olive oil, red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, garlic, mustard, and honey.
Add chicken, arugula, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and red bell pepper to the pasta bowl. Pour over the dressing and toss to combine.
Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and serve.
NUTRITION
Tuyet Pham
Chef, Culinary Consultant
Luna Regina
Writer, Author
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD
Nutrition Reviewer